∎ Download Freedom Necessity Steven Brust Emma Bull 9780812562613 Books

Freedom Necessity Steven Brust Emma Bull 9780812562613 Books

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Freedom Necessity Steven Brust Emma Bull 9780812562613 Books

Freedom and Necessity, while published as fantasy by two authors known for their fantasy is a hard novel to categorize in terms of genre. First it is an epistolary historical novel, told in almost perfect Victorian mimicry set just after the Chartist Revolution. The single fantasy element, a magical conspiracy and plot by a secret society using magic both Kabbalistic and Celtic doesn't quite rise to high fantasy, because as with life, the reality of the spiritual and magical elements depends upon the beliefs of the reader. As other reviewers have noted, the letters, journal entries and other created and real documents that comprise the narrative also include a huge slice of nineteenth century formal and social philosophy and the characters discuss the philosophies among themselves as well. It is a brilliant novel and includes a hair-raising adventure to discern and foil the plot as well as a vibrant and sincere love story between two adult equals. In short, Freedom and Necessity is enthralling and challenging and reveals more with every re-read.

James Cobham, thought drowned at a family party, comes to his senses, injured and ill in a country inn with confusing and fragmented memories of how he spent the last two months, or so he writes his cousin, Richard Cobham. The two cousins, along with Richard's wife Kitty and another cousin, Susan try to unravel the mystery of James's missing months and the political and familial plots arrayed against him. The letters and the characters traverse much of England, Ireland, Continental philosophy, Victorian social and political conditions and the birth of Communism as a philosophy. The answers to the puzzle are meted out at exactly the right pace and are everything the reader could hope - the perfect blend of magic and realism.

I was unfamiliar with the work of either Brust or Bull when I bought this book, but became familiar with it on the strength of this work, which is different than anything either writer has produced before. The characterization is especially strong too. These are real people, good people who make mistakes in a complex situation based on both personal flaws and misreading of the motives of others and their own. The love stories are a joy to read conducted as they are between real, whole people. Freedom and Necessity has become an all time favorite book of mine and I re-read it every few years. The complexity of the plot, the philosophy, the characters and the language keep this book evergreen for the reader. A phenomenal achievement. I wish there were more books with this wonderful combination of deep thought and fast plot. Highly recommended to readers of Victoriana, historical novels, fantasy adventure and just plain old popular fiction that verges on the literary.


Tags : Freedom & Necessity [Steven Brust, Emma Bull] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <div>It is 1849. Across Europe, the high tide of revolution has crested, leaving recrimination and betrayal in its wake. From the high councils of Prussia to the corridors of Parliament,Steven Brust, Emma Bull,Freedom & Necessity,Tor Fantasy,0812562615,Science Fiction - General,Fantasy fiction,American Science Fiction And Fantasy,Fantasy - Historical,Fiction,Fiction - Fantasy,Fiction Fantasy Historical,Fiction Science Fiction General,Science Fiction,Fantasy

Freedom Necessity Steven Brust Emma Bull 9780812562613 Books Reviews

I picked this book up after reading a piece in which China Mieville recommended it, and I really wanted to like it more than I did. The authors certainly faithfully reproduce the sound and feel of the mid-Victorian English lower aristocracy quite well, and in general, their historical re-imaginings were acceptably within the realm of the possible. The atmosphere of High Philosophy lent an edge of gravitas to the political hijinks going on (Hegel's Science of Logic is a recurring motif, although that is not his most influential work; The Phenomenology of Spirit is), and Friedrich Engels makes a cameo appearance that is fun too. The problem for me was that the epistolary style is just so incredibly dense, even rather foreign, that it took me forever to wade through the book. Usually I don't care for the complaint that a book is too long, but in this instance, I find it apt. I was enjoying it through about page 300 or so, but thereafter I was quite ready for them to start wrapping things up, yet there were still 200 increasingly tedious pages to go. This one's a tough call, then I'd recommend it if you're a patient reader and inclined toward Victorian literature like Dickens or Thackeray or Eliot. But if you just want a ripping good yarn and don't want to have to work overly hard for a payoff (and, in my opinion, it wasn't too great an ending), and/or if you're expecting science fiction or fantasy, well, this probably isn't going to be your cup of tea. Myself, I probably could have used a half-cup instead, and with perhaps a little more sweetener....
I LOVE this book, but I will admit it's not for everyone. I read a lot of sf/fantasy, but the best comparison I can come up with is A.S. Byatt's "Posession". If you enjoyed "Posession" I think you will enjoy this book. The story can be a bit hard to follow, but I enjoy flipping back to reread pages that are later referred to. Great mystery, intrique, murder and attempted murder, and, to quote the back cover "of course, passionate romance". Wonderful fun!
This is my favorite book. I have purchased three different copies over the years. Oh how I wish it came in a kindle format
This is one of my favourite books and I was delighted to find an ebook copy with only a few transcription errors. Great characters, complex relationships and lots of goings on with the odd historical figure.
As advertised
It's rare to come across a book that drives me to buy and send it to friends. Usually I will just recommend a book - but this one I happily have sent on at my own expense. I'm very cheap.
A well-written X-Files meets Sherlock Holmes meets Lovecraft, meets Emma Bull and Steven Brust. Throw in the beginnings of communism and the 19th Century British Labor movement, elite British families, and a hearty dose of feminism, and you've got magic. (really - it works far better than you'd imagine!)
Emma Bull is one of the great unsung writers of her generation. I stumbled across her 'War for the Oaks' in a used book store years ago, and was blown away. I then did the same with 'Falcon' and was again surprised. Unfortunately, she has been sucked into 'genre' writing and storylines that just plain don't differentiate her. But she writes so very well!
I've never read anything by Steven Brust before, and I would guess that I'm one of the few out there that read this for Ms. Bull's reputation. But I'm going to be picking up his work soon.
Outstanding just for the style. A VERY SMART BOOK!
A totally absorbing world. This is not the normal escape I look for, but I couldn't put it down. The fantasy element reduces the threat to your cherished ideas and ideals and makes it easier to reconsider them in a new light. Thank goodness they finally released it on .
Freedom and Necessity, while published as fantasy by two authors known for their fantasy is a hard novel to categorize in terms of genre. First it is an epistolary historical novel, told in almost perfect Victorian mimicry set just after the Chartist Revolution. The single fantasy element, a magical conspiracy and plot by a secret society using magic both Kabbalistic and Celtic doesn't quite rise to high fantasy, because as with life, the reality of the spiritual and magical elements depends upon the beliefs of the reader. As other reviewers have noted, the letters, journal entries and other created and real documents that comprise the narrative also include a huge slice of nineteenth century formal and social philosophy and the characters discuss the philosophies among themselves as well. It is a brilliant novel and includes a hair-raising adventure to discern and foil the plot as well as a vibrant and sincere love story between two adult equals. In short, Freedom and Necessity is enthralling and challenging and reveals more with every re-read.

James Cobham, thought drowned at a family party, comes to his senses, injured and ill in a country inn with confusing and fragmented memories of how he spent the last two months, or so he writes his cousin, Richard Cobham. The two cousins, along with Richard's wife Kitty and another cousin, Susan try to unravel the mystery of James's missing months and the political and familial plots arrayed against him. The letters and the characters traverse much of England, Ireland, Continental philosophy, Victorian social and political conditions and the birth of Communism as a philosophy. The answers to the puzzle are meted out at exactly the right pace and are everything the reader could hope - the perfect blend of magic and realism.

I was unfamiliar with the work of either Brust or Bull when I bought this book, but became familiar with it on the strength of this work, which is different than anything either writer has produced before. The characterization is especially strong too. These are real people, good people who make mistakes in a complex situation based on both personal flaws and misreading of the motives of others and their own. The love stories are a joy to read conducted as they are between real, whole people. Freedom and Necessity has become an all time favorite book of mine and I re-read it every few years. The complexity of the plot, the philosophy, the characters and the language keep this book evergreen for the reader. A phenomenal achievement. I wish there were more books with this wonderful combination of deep thought and fast plot. Highly recommended to readers of Victoriana, historical novels, fantasy adventure and just plain old popular fiction that verges on the literary.